Washington: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran's national football team is welcome to compete in this summer's World Cup but warned it may not be safe for them to do so. "I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

According to Anadolu Agency, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that Trump had reaffirmed Iran's welcome, emphasizing that the World Cup was needed "now more than ever" to unite people globally. Infantino remarked, "Football unites the world," in his statement.

Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced that the country would not participate, citing the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli joint attacks on Iran that started on February 28. He asserted, "Under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup."

Despite qualifying for the tournament, which begins on June 11 across the US, Canada, and Mexico, Iran's team was scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The situation in the Middle East has intensified following the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, reportedly resulting in the deaths of around 1,300 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Eight US service members have been killed since the beginning of this campaign amid Iranian retaliation.